Analysis of motion of solid hydrogen tracer particles in oscillating superfluid flows

We have developed a relatively simple cryostat which allows us to image turbulent flows in superfluid helium at temperatures below 2 K, using frozen H2 particles. We analyze the statistics of the velocities of these solid tracers, which follow the turbulent flow generated by oscillating bodies. We have also studied one of the oscillators working in air at room temperature, and traced the flow with solid talcum particles for comparison. Images were recorded by a digital camera at 240 frames per second, while frequencies of the oscillators are between 20 to 45 Hz. The flow is characterized by a modified Reynolds number Reδ based on the viscous penetration depth δ. Software in a dedicated particle tracking velocimetry code allows us to compute the trajectories and velocities of tens of thousands of particles. We have obtained the number of particles for equally spaced intervals of the velocity modulus. For the oscillators in the superfluid, the probability of finding particles at higher velocities has an exponential decay. Within our resolution the statistics in the superfluid for oscillating objects with sharp borders is largely independent of Reδ, while the logarithmic decay at low velocities seems faster than for high velocities for rounded objects. On the other hand, for data taken in air the result is closer to a classical Gaussian distribution of velocities.Fil: Zemma, Elisa María. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Luzuriaga, J.. Comisión Nacional de Energía Atómica. Gerencia del Área de Energía Nuclear. Instituto Balseiro; ArgentinaFil: Babuin, S.. Czech Academy of Sciences. Institute of Physics; República Chec

Fluvial Depositional Processes of a Tropical River, Colombia, South America

Fluvial depositional processes along the Rio Magui in south-western Columbia are primarily controlled by localized uplift downstream of the mouth of the river, sediment sources that produce both coarse-and-fine-grained load, and numerous over-bank flows caused by torrential rainfall

Argatroban in the management of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia

Heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) is an immunoglobulin-mediated serious complication of heparin therapy characterized by thrombocytopenia and high risk for venous and arterial thrombosis: HIT and thrombosis syndrome (HITTS). Argatroban, a direct thrombin inhibitor, is indicated as the anticoagulant for the treatment and prophylaxis of thrombosis in patients with HIT and in patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) who have HIT. The aim of this review is to examine the pharmacological characteristics and the clinical efficacy and safety of this drug in adults with HIT, including those undergoing PCI. Briefly, 2 prospective multicenter, nonrandomized, open-label studies evaluated the efficacy and safety of argatroban as an anticoagulant in patients with HIT or HITTS. Both studies showed that the incidence of the primary efficacy end point, a composite of all-cause death, all-cause amputation, or new thrombosis, was reduced in argatroban-treated patients vs control subjects with HIT or HITTS. In both studies, bleeding rates were similar between the groups. Argatroban was evaluated as the anticoagulant therapy in 3 prospective, multicenter, open-label studies in HIT patients who underwent PCI. The studies were similar in design with respect to patient inclusion and exclusion criteria, the argatroban dosing regimen, and primary efficacy outcomes. The investigators performed a pooled analysis of these studies, which showed that most (≥95%) patients achieved a satisfactory outcome from the procedure and adequate anticoagulation (coprimary end points)

Evaluation of live phytoplankton and live algae substitute diets for feeding juvenile oysters (crassostrea gigas) in nursery culture

The aim of this study was to mitigate summer mortality of juvenile Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) by developing a low-cost, low-intensity system of supplemental feeding of juvenile oysters that could be used during times of low natural phytoplankton production. Three experiments tested the effectiveness of supplemental feeding of juvenile oysters in nursery culture using live algae and live algae substitute diets. Experiment 1 tested five dietary formulations consisting of two Schizochytrium-based live algae substitute diets (Algamac³⁰⁵⁰™ and Rotimac™) and Isochrysis galbana (clone T-Iso) in 1:1 (dw:dw) and 100% formulations. Oysters were fed for 60 days and the Algamac³⁰⁵⁰™/T-Iso diet produced the highest percentage increase in dry weight over 60 days (+106%) followed by the reference T-Iso diet (+65%). Experiment 2 tested the effectiveness of using protease absence/presence as an indication of dietary suitability. The oysters that were fed the diets that produced poor growth (Algamac³⁰⁵⁰™, Rotimac™ and the starved control) also failed to produce proteases. Experiment 3 tested three dietary formulations consisting of two mixed Schizochytrium-based live algae substitute (Algamac³⁰⁵⁰™ and Rotimac™) and live algae diets (using phytoplankton grown in outdoor bloom tanks dominated by Thalassiosira nordenskioeldii', 1:1 (dw:dw)) and a reference 100% T. nordenskioeldii diet. Both mixed diets produced a significant increase in mean oyster dry weight and overall energy storage levels compared to the T. nordenskioeldii diet following 30 days of feeding. The results of the three experiments suggest that juvenile oyster energy storage levels and overall health could be improved through a supplemental feeding regime

Lotus tenuis x L. corniculatus interspecific hybridization as a means to breed bloat-safe pastures and gain insight into the genetic control of proanthocyanidin biosynthesis in legumes

Background: Proanthocyanidins (PAs) are secondary metabolites that strongly affect plant quality traits. The concentration and the structure of these metabolites influence the palatability and nutritional value of forage legumes. Hence, modulating PAs in the leaves of forage legumes is of paramount relevance for forage breeders worldwide. The lack of genetic variation in the leaf PA trait within the most important forage species and the difficulties in engineering this pathway via the ectopic expression of regulatory genes, prompted us to pursue alternative strategies to enhance this trait in forage legumes of agronomic interest. The Lotus genus includes forage species which accumulate PAs in edible organs and can thus be used as potential donor parents in breeding programs. Results: We recovered a wild, diploid and PA-rich population of L. corniculatus and crossed with L. tenuis. The former grows in an alkaline-salty area in Spain while the latter is a diploid species, grown extensively in South American pastures, which does not accumulate PAs in the herbage. The resulting interspecific hybrids displayed several traits of outstanding agronomic relevance such as rhizome production, PA levels in edible tissues sufficient to prevent ruminal bloating (around 5 mg of PAs/g DW), biomass production similar to the cultivated parent and potential for adaptability to marginal lands. We show that PA levels correlate with expression levels of the R2R3MYB transcription factor TT2 and, in turn, with those of the key structural genes of the epicatechin and catechin biosynthetic pathways leading to PA biosynthesis. Conclusions: The L. tenuis x L. corniculatus hybrids, reported herein, represent the first example of the introgression of the PA trait in forage legumes to levels known to provide nutritional and health benefits to ruminants. Apart from PAs, the hybrids have additional traits which may prove useful to breed forage legumes with increased persistence and adaptability to marginal conditions. Finally, our study suggests the hybrids and their progeny are an invaluable tool to gain a leap forward in our understanding of the genetic control of PA biosynthesis and tolerance to stresses in legumes.Fil: Escaray, Francisco José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Passeri, Valentina. Institute of Biosciences and BioResources; Italia. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; ItaliaFil: Babuin, María Florencia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Marco, Francisco. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Carrasco, Pedro. Universidad de Valencia; EspañaFil: Damiani, Francesco. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Italia. Institute of Biosciences and BioResources; ItaliaFil: Pieckenstain, Fernando Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); ArgentinaFil: Paolocci, Francesco. Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche; Italia. Institute of Biosciences and BioResources; ItaliaFil: Ruiz, Oscar Adolfo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús). Universidad Nacional de San Martín. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas "Dr. Raúl Alfonsín" (sede Chascomús); Argentin

The Polyvalent heat pumps technology in retrofit of existing HVAC systems

In terms of existing buildings’ retrofit, historical and non-residential buildings clearly represent two challenging categories. In historical buildings, due to architectural constraints, acting on the technical side is often the only way to reduce consumptions, while non-residential buildings usually require simultaneous production of hot and chilled water. In these cases, Polyvalent heat pumps represent an interesting solution, able to guarantee significant reductions of primary energy consumptions. In detail, a Reference Building for an historical office was simulated in three Mediterranean cities, using EnergyPlus software and some evaluation tools specifically set to emulate the energy performances of the examined HVAC technologies

Fulminant myocarditis parvovirus B19 related in a young woman

We present the case of a 18-year-old female with fulminant lymphocytic myocarditis caused by Parvovirus B19 (PVB19), successfully treated using temporary LVAD. In the literature there is no consensus on the surgical strategy. While some surgeons prefer to use a single device supporting only the LV, others prefer to start immediately with a biventricular supporting. At pre-procedural ultrasound evaluation, her anatomical features were not suitable for a percutaneous device such as the Impella. Thus, a temporary paracorporeal continuous flow LVAD was inserted. The heart recovery allowed LVAD removal 9 days after the implant

Type 2 myocardial infarction: the chimaera of cardiology?

The term type 2 myocardial infarction first appeared as part of the universal definition of myocardial infarction. It was introduced to cover a group of patients who had elevation of cardiac troponin but did not meet the traditional criteria for acute myocardial infarction although they were considered to have an underlying ischaemic aetiology for the myocardial damage observed. Since first inception, the term type 2 myocardial infarction has always been vague. Although attempts have been made to produce a systematic definition of what constitutes a type 2 myocardial infarction, it has been more often characterised by what it is not rather than what it is. Clinical studies that have used type 2 myocardial infarction as a diagnostic criterion have produced disparate incidence figures. The range of associated clinical conditions differs from study to study. Additionally, there are no agreed or evidence-based treatment strategies for type 2 myocardial infarction. The authors believe that the term type 2 myocardial infarction is confusing and not evidence-based. They consider that there is good reason to stop using this term and consider instead the concept of secondary myocardial injury that relates to the underlying pathophysiology of the primary clinical condition